As the internet becomes ever more intertwined with our daily lives and growth in penetration rates show no signs of slowing down, more and more people are losing their inhibitions and posting greater amounts of information and intimate details of themselves and their social surroundings online, willing to share these details with anyone who is interested in listening.

In Shanghai, excitement is growing for the upcoming World Expo 2010. At the same time, there are many discussions surrounding China’s thriving social media website. A recently released research study brought the two phenomenons together, outlining topics discussed on the Internet, including Expo tickets, sponsors, pavilions, and more.

The vastness of China and the sheer size of the population mean that opportunities still abound for companies interested in entering this market. However, regardless of the product category, a strategic decision-making methodology is now essential for determining whether or not to take the plunge in China.

In contrast to Western consumers, Asian people prefer name-brand luxury goods with conspicuous logos, according to a recent market research study.

In the coming years, as western companies penetrate further into China, moving beyond the dynamic but developed markets of the 1st tier cities, marketers, strategists, and CEOs will all have to start asking themselves about the characteristics of Chinese consumers in 2nd, 3rd and even 4th tier cities, about the consumers who live in these fairly well-developed areas but have not yet had the chance to become global consumers.

With thousands of companies, big and small, producing bottled water in China and numerous brands displayed on the shelves, which bottle to choose is a bewildering task for many consumers. Yet, the fascinating field of semiotic research reveals room for innovation.